Mr. Elton was in continual raptures, and defended it through every criticism…”Oh, it is most admirable! I cannot keep my eyes from it. I never saw such a likeness.”
– Jane Austen
Emma, Chapter 6. Despite Mrs. Weston and Mr. Knightley criticizing Emma’s painting of Harriet, Mr. Elton is said to be in “raptures” and enthusiastically approves it. He even volunteers to bring it to London to have it framed. Mr. Elton’s goal in flattering Emma and making her art out to be better than it is, is to win her affection, not Harriet’s.